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Marlborough, MA

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Marlborough, MA

Marlborough is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 41,793 at the 2020 census. Marlborough became a prosperous industrial town in the 19th century and made the transition to a high-technology industry in the late 20th century after the construction of the Massachusetts Turnpike. It is part of the Worcester metropolitan area.

Marlborough was declared a town in 1660 and was incorporated as a city in 1890 when it changed its municipal charter from a New England town meeting system to a mayor–council government.

John Howe in 1656 was a fur trader and built a house at the intersection of two Indian trails, Nashua Trail and Connecticut Path. He could speak the language of the Algonquian Indians though the local tribe referred to themselves as the Pennacooks. The settlers were welcomed by the Indians because they protected them from other tribes they were at war with. In the 1650s, several families left the nearby town of Sudbury, 18 miles west of Boston, to start a new town. The village was named after Marlborough, the market town in Wiltshire, England. It was first settled in 1657 by 14 men led by Edmund Rice, John Ruddock, John Howe, and a third John named John Bent; in 1656 Rice and his colleagues petitioned the Massachusetts General Court to create the town of Marlborough and it was officially incorporated in 1660. Rice was elected a selectman at Marlborough in 1657. Sumner Chilton Powell wrote, in Puritan Village: The Formation of a New England Town, "Not only did Rice become the largest individual landholder in Sudbury, but he represented his new town in the Massachusetts legislature for five years and devoted at least eleven of his last fifteen years to serving as selectman and judge of small causes."

Marlborough was one of the seven "Praying Indian Towns" because they were converted to Christianity by the Rev. John Eliot of Roxbury. In 1674, a deed was drawn up dividing the land between the settlers and the natives. This is the only record of the names of the natives. The settlement was almost destroyed by Native Americans in 1676 during King Philip's War.

In 1711, Marlborough's territory included Northborough, Southborough, Westborough, and Hudson. As population, business, and travel grew in the colonies, Marlborough became a favored rest stop on the Boston Post Road. Many travelers stopped at its inns and taverns, including George Washington, who visited the Williams Tavern soon after his inauguration in 1789.

In 1836, Samuel Boyd, known as the "father of the city," and his brother, Joseph, opened the first shoe manufacturing business - an act that would change the community forever. By 1890, with a population of 14,000, Marlborough had become a major shoe manufacturing center, producing boots for Union soldiers, as well as footwear for the civilian population. Marlborough became so well known for its shoes that its official seal was decorated with a factory, a shoe box, and a pair of boots when it was incorporated as a city in 1890.

Marlborough is located at 42°21′3″N 71°32′51″W (42.350909, −71.547530). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 22.2 square miles (57 km2), of which 21.1 square miles (55 km2) is land and 1.1 square miles (2.8 km2) (4.87%) is water. The Assabet River cuts across the northwest corner of the city. Within city limits are three large lakes, known as Lake Williams, Millham Reservoir, and Fort Meadow Reservoir. (A portion of Fort Meadow Reservoir extends into nearby Hudson.) Marlborough is crossed by Interstate 495, U.S. Route 20, and Massachusetts Route 85. The eastern terminus of Interstate 290 is also in Marlborough.

Marlborough places a strong emphasis on health and wellness for its residents. UMass Memorial Health-Marlborough Hospital provides a wide range of inpatient and outpatient medical, surgical, and ancillary services. Start your fitness journey at Marlboro Fitness and Martial Arts and Lifetime Fitness, offering personalized workouts for fitness needs. For a diverse range of classes, Encompass Fitness-Marlborough provides yoga, boot camps, and more. The Fitness Asylum is perfect for those looking to join a supportive fitness community. The Marlborough Senior Center offers health and wellness programs including blood pressure monitoring, dance classes, and brain fitness sessions. For a holistic approach, visit the Natural Living Expo, New England's premier holistic health event featuring workshops and exhibits.  

Top sites in Marlborough, MA are Ghiloni Park, Breakout Games - Boston (Marlborough), Solomon Pond Mall, and Apex Entertainment Marlborough.

Population: 41,179 (2023). ZIP code: 01752. Area code: 508/774. Elevation: 450 ft (137 m). Area: 22.2 square miles (57 km2).

FAQs

What is Marlborough, MA known for?

Centrally located near the intersection of Routes 495, 290, 20, and the Massachusetts Turnpike, Marlborough is known for its strong public schools, thriving and diverse community, and economic opportunity for all. Marlborough still retains the tree-covered ridges and idyllic ponds from its early days as a Native American and Colonial settlement and has numerous conservation lands and trails for residents and visitors to explore. Home to the New England Sports Center, the largest skating rink complex in North America, and Fore Kicks, Marlborough has amenities for all families. 

Is Marlborough, MA a good place to live?

Marlborough is in Middlesex County. Living in Marlborough offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Marlborough, there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many families and young professionals live in Marlborough and residents tend to be liberal. The public schools in Marlborough are above average.

Is Marlborough, MA wealthy?

The economy of Marlborough, MA employs 22.9k people. The largest industries in Marlborough, MA are Manufacturing (3,166 people), Retail Trade (2,812 people), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services (2,406 people), and the highest paying industries are Finance & Insurance ($99,688), Utilities ($98,381), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($95,843). The median household income in Marlborough, MA is $94,199. In 2022, the place with the highest median household income in Marlborough, MA was Census Tract 3214 with a value of $125,579, followed by Census Tract 3216 and Census Tract 3212, with respective values of $107,869 and $95,286.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Marlborough

Niche

Data USA

Ghiloni Park 

Breakout Games - Boston (Marlborough) 

Solomon Pond Mall 

Apex Entertainment Marlborough

UMass Memorial Health-Marlborough Hospital

Marlboro Fitness and Martial Arts

Lifetime Fitness

Encompass Fitness-Marlborough

The Fitness Asylum

Natural Living Expo
 

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